Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-26
MATRIM0NY IN MEXICO.
AN EXCEEDINGLY LONG AND TIE
DIOUS CEREMONY,
Occupyiug Four Hours Marriage in
High Life-Wedded Juiiets and
Jealous Romeos.

Occupying Four HOurs-m III
High Life-Wedded Juliets and
Jealous Romeos.
Especial Correspondence REooRD-UsIos.l
CRY OF MEXICO, February is. 1887
Ike wonder Is that anybody ever gets
married in Mexico, Not only are there
the dangers and difficulties of slfJ rosa court
ing, which have endeavored to describe.
but matrimony means the expenditure of a
great deal of money.
According to the time-honored customs
of the country, the prospective groom must
furnish home, fully equipped for house
keeping, before the wedding day, and must
purchase ell the brides trousseau. Not
word is said about the dowery until at the
civil ceremony, when agreements are
drawn up as to how much will be the wife's
portion on the death of her parents-for
until their demise she will receive abso-
lutely nothing. Even the white satin boots
and the lingerie which she wears to the
altar are gifts Of the groom, every article Of
returned to her family
The groom is also expected to make gifts
to the bridesmaids, the brides relatives,
and to all immediate friends, besides de-
fraying expenses of the wedding-feas and
subsequent festivities. And the old Span
ish fashion is still sometimes INDUCED in
by modern Dons-of equal pride though
far less wealth than their titled ancestors
during the ride from church when first
made
HAPPY BENEDICTs,
Or later from The balcony of the connubial
casa, to scatter coin among the cheering
and scrambling populace, as farmer sows
his grain.
Notwithstanding all the passionate love-
making of these Mexican Juliets, l am
sorry TO say that most Of them are sad
hirts. 1t frequently happens that a girl has
two or three admirers, who are all play
ing the bear " to her (as their peculiar style
of outdoor counting is called), at the same
time. If they chance to meet outside her
windows they are pretty sure to Go,
each being so constant in his attendance
the question is asked, Qaien q,tiere IT, 2
e. Whom do you wish to see?'') If the an
swer indicates the same object, one will re-
quest the other 10 step aside, urging prior,
claims, etc. If he refuses. duel follows,
and then the poor girl is bound by ETH
quette to relinquish them both. But in
their blind and jealous rage the rival Ro-
meos are quite as likely to settle the mat
ter then and there with ever-present dag
gers or pistols and-tragic though the end
may be-she who can boast the greatest
number of such encounters for her sake is
pre-eminently the belle.
Despite the rigid seclusion in which these
fair Mexicanas are kept, elopements are not
unknown-but
MEXICAN ELoPEMENT
Is not like any other under the sun. Per-
chance some devoted Romeo has been
assiduously sparkling at long range, so
to speak, outside his Juliet's window, for
year, five years-even fifteen years. as | am
told, is sometimes the case; if, after all
that expenditure of time patience, and
guitar playing, he is at last rejected by the
obdurate parents, he can go to the nearest
Jefe Politico and swear out notice to the
effect that the girls happiness and his own
is ruined by the fathers heartlessDeSs; and
if he can induce the official to believe it
tby Offering sufficient bonus, he secures
warrant, which empowers him to take the
damsel bodily from her parents home.
A romance-not exactly of this nature
howeyer-occurred few years ago in the
State of Guerrero The Caicque of one of
the Indian tribes which inhabit that south
ern portion of Mexico, became enamored
of beautiful senorita of Spanish lineage.
Having no time to squander in playing
the bear"-and knowing, moreover, that her
parents would never favor his snit-this
tan-colored Robin Hood kidnapped thegirl
on her way to church, and carried her off
to his lodge in the wilderness. At the
earnest solicitation of her distracted family
the Government marched down regiment
of soldiers to rescue the captive. After
long and weary searching they found the
chicftain's home, in the heart of an india
rubber forest, and were met by the girl her
self, who eutreated the commander OF the
forces to depart and leave her in peace and
happiness. Said she: Il was terrified
when sliced and brought here; but now |
am the Cacique'S wife, and love him bet
Ter than any other being on earth" The
gallant COmdaddnte. still incredulous, and
fearing that threats of vengeance had
caused her to make this statement,
expostulated with her. and spoke of
her mothers tears and the grief of
her former lover. But with a naughty
gesture this modern Desdemona replied
q | remain here voluntarily, and forever.
You will oblige me by withdrawing your
forces" So the lady was left to her fate and
] am glad to tell you that the
AZTEC oTHELLo
Proved model husband, and the romance
turned out like a genuine fairy tale So
very rich are the Cacique and his queen
that they live in great state (for Indians),
and whenever they 60 abroad are carried
in closed litters, Ia Montezuma, on the
backs of their faithful subjects, so guarded
that the vulgar he'd" may not behold
their faces. But the yelled prophet and his
bride are not al all ambitious for the empty
honors of the outer world they desire
simply to he left TO themselves, in quiet
possession of the hills and wales of their
small domain.
Even after a Mexican couple are en-
gagged and the parental blessing bestov ed,
the lover is not permitted to see his sweet
heart for one moment alone. With the pa
rents consent, he may call at stated inter
walls and converse with his fdnce in the
presence of her family; but though the be-
trothal is legal ceremony, duly witnessed
and almost as binding as marriage itself,
not until the last knot in the hymenial hall
ter is securely tied can he have word with
her in private, or attend her anywhere in
public without her mothers company-if
not that also of her sisters, her cousins
and her aunts-or snatch one little surrep-
titious kiss. TO be sure, if he wants
to kiss her decorously under battery of
eyes, no serious objection might be raised
after betrothment-but somehow, the
world over. spooning lovers seem to con-
slider the presence of others rather detri-
mental 10 the finer flavor of OSCILLATION.
OF course, under such system, the
couple can have no real acquaintance be-
fore marriage, bat must learn one
another's tastes and temper after
wards. However unsuitable the union
may prove, there is no release but
death under this Catholic regime, which
renders enforcement impossible. Naturally
domestic tragedies sometimes occur, but
truth compels us to admit that they are
far less numerous than in our own land,
where every opportunity is afforded for
thorough acquaintanceship before mar
rage, but where $50 say the Mexicans)
:. regular customers in the divorce
Courts obtain those documents at half
price
TWO DISTINCT CEREMONIES
Are required to satisfy the demands of both
Church and State. First, the civil mar
rage is performed by public official, as
-ann;rad nv the :. liberal ~ law of the